Well, here we are on the second Sunday of Lent. It is the time of year when we are called to reflect, repent and renew. This time of year is not always when we here the “feel good” messages we all like to hear…and as pastor’s are easier to preach.
Still, even in these times, the times when we are called to take a hard look at our lives, times when we are challenged to examine how we live out our faith, even in these times, we can always find hope and good news in the Word.
In the scriptures just before today’s reading we learn of Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ which means Messiah or Anointed One. Jesus is nearing the completion of His mission on the earth. And still, just before today’s scripture, He warns His disciples not to tell anyone who He is… But all that is about to change.
Here Jesus begins telling His disciples about the coming events. About His suffering, rejection and ultimate death … and after three days, that He would rise again. The scriptures tell us “he spoke plainly about this...” and that’s when Peter acts.
Peter has become more or less the spokesperson for all the disciples and there is evidence here that Jesus knew the rest of the disciples, not just Peter, were confused, shocked and or concerned about what Jesus was saying.
Remember, the disciples had been brought up in traditional Jewish interpretation of God’s Word and as such they could not understand how their Messiah could ever suffer and die. It’s true, some of the prophets had written about the Messiah’s suffering, but a whole lot more was written about the Messiah’s glory. There were even some rabbi’s who taught there would be two (2) Messiahs, one who would suffer and one who would reign. So, given this information, it’s no wonder they were confused.
But notice that when Jesus rebukes Peter, He turned and looked at His disciples. Jesus knew their hearts and thoughts were right there with Peter. And think about this. The problem was more than theological. The problem was practical as well. After all, Jesus had called these men to follow Him and they knew that whatever happened to Him would happen to them. If there was a cross in His future, there would be one in their future as well. So, I don’t know about you, but if that was me I probably would be quick to disagree with Jesus as well. After all, I doubt my mind could accept that I would be knowingly walking to my death!
MOVE
There is no question of their devotion to Jesus, but the disciples were still ignorant about the relationship between the cross and the crown. Peter and the disciples were following Satan’s philosophy of glory without suffering, instead of God’s philosophy of suffering transformed into glory. Satan knows where Jesus is going. Satan knows his defeat is imminent and he will try everything to keep Jesus from going to the cross.
Today, Jesus still poses the same question for each of us…which philosophy will we follow? Do we want to share in the glory of Jesus without the cost of suffering, or are we willing to endure suffering because we believe our suffering will indeed be transformed into eternal glory?
MOVE
When most people consider the claims and conditions of Christianity, their first thought is “what will I have to give up?” Usually we think of giving up smoking, dancing, drugs, alcohol or sexual promiscuity or whatever… the list can go on and on.
But in this scripture, Jesus makes the issue crystal clear. His demands are infinitely more encompassing. Jesus wants us to give up ourselves.
MOVE
Reading Mark 8:34 seems to indicate Jesus and the disciples had met alone, in private. But we see evidence the crowds weren’t far away. Jesus calls the crowds to Him and teaches them what He had just taught His disciples And He teaches us today. There is a price to pay for true discipleship.
Jesus knew many in the crowds were following Him only because of the miracles, and most of the people were unwilling to pay the price to become true disciples. Jesus laid down some key conditions for true discipleship. First, we must surrender ourselves completely to Him. Second, we must identify with Him in suffering and death… Third, we must follow Him obediently, wherever He leads.
MOVE
The first thing we must do is admit we are by nature self-centered and captive to sin. Last week we talked about The Flood, The Ark and the Rainbow... the covenant. In last week’s reading, God speaks about our natural inclination toward sin…. In Genesis 8: 34 God, speaking to Noah says… “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood.”
There is nothing new here. We’ve heard these words before. Again and again the preacher tells us, we are sinners…. But in truth, the preacher is REMINDING us we are sinners. Reminding us of God’s very own words. (Read Psalm 51: 1-5) …. From Romans 3: 23 “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 5: 12. “Therefore just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men because all sinned.”
If we believe Jesus words when he says “Come ALL who are weary and burdened” can we not believe Gods Word when He proclaims ALL sinned?
That is why we MUST confess our sins, throw ourselves upon the mercy of God’s grace and surrender our lives completely to Him. Let go of our desires, our wants, our pride… this is the act of taking up our cross. This means surrendering our “right” to the future we have been expecting.
The cross in this context is not a symbol of the difficulties we will inevitably endure in the life. Rather it represents the place of death, death to self .“Taking up our cross” signifies our declaration, our affirmation that our future belongs exclusively to God. We “die” to living life our way and begin a new life lived according to God’s way.
Take time now to … Reflect, Repent, Renew
Can we do that? Can we really truly deep in our soul do that? Can we live our lives according to God’s way, not ours? Reflect, Repent, Renew
MOVE
Are you ready for some good news? We read in Romans 3: 23 that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,… but verses 24 through 26 contain the hope and the promise of Jesus Christ….it reads…”and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His Blood. (In this way, we Identify with His death) He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
So there we have it. A message we’ve heard so many times, yet, so vital. We are all sinners…. But…. “… God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Now that’s good news!
MOVE
So there we have it. A message we have heard so many times, yet we need to hear again and again. A message to reflect, repent and renew…. Reflect on how we are living our lives, repent… repent for our sins….repent for the sin of sometimes believing we are without sin… and renewal … renewal of a life in Christ. Once again we claim the victory reflected in 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
MOVE
Now there’s just one more little point we need to see in this scripture. Look at verse 38.
If we are embarrassed about Jesus……..
Have you ever been embarrassed or ashamed about being Christian….about Jesus? In here, surrounded by our Christian friends it is easy and seemingly natural to profess our faith in Jesus Christ. This is a safe place…and well it should be. But what about when we leave this place? How comfortable are we to wear our Christianity on our shirtsleeve?
Do you give thanks for your meals when you eat out at a restaurant…. Or are you concerned someone might notice? Would you be ashamed if someone noticed? Are you afraid to raise your arms in worship because you are embarrassed someone might consider you a radical….a radical for Jesus? By the way, raising your arms does not make you more or less a believer. What I’m saying if you feel the urge to raise your arms in worship…raise your arms, do not be ashamed. But if that simply is not you or if you were to raise your arms just because you thought it was the right thing to do or because you wanted people to see how religious you are… than don’t go there. Worship, true worship is a very personal experience, even in a cooperate setting like this. If you want to reach out to Jesus, reach out… if you simply want to sing out and gaze upon His glory… sing out. And Jesus will still smile!
Jesus doesn’t say that if we are ashamed of Him we can’t get into heaven. No, instead, He tells us he will be ashamed of us. How would that make you feel? Jesus paid the ultimate price so we could be there with Him in heaven, yet, in this lifetime, we were ashamed of Jesus. I don’t know about you, but the very thought of Jesus being ashamed of me makes me very sad. I have made many mistakes in this lifetime. And though I strive to do the right thing, there is ample evidence to suspect I may make a few more mistakes before I get to go home. But one mistake I pray I will never make is to ever be ashamed of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I want to be able to look Jesus straight in the eyes, with eternal gratitude for His forgiveness of my sin. And I want to see His return gaze letting me know He knows that while there is behavior in my past I am ashamed of; I was never ashamed of Him, or of my faith in Him or to witness that faith whenever the opportunity arose. I will not be ashamed, I will be confident, I will be bold.
MOVE & CLOSE
So then, what do we have to give up to follow Jesus? The answer is simple. Everything.
But what do we gain from doing so? The answer is breathtakingly wonderful-beyond our wildest dreams: EVERYTHING!
